Intermittent operating mechanism



Nov. 9, 1948. I ERWQOD I 2,453,123

INTERMIT'IENT OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 13, 1947 4 Shee'ts-Shet 1Nov. 9, 1948. I J, ER OQD 2,453,123

INTERMITTENT OPERATING IVIECIL'KIIISIVIv Filed Sept. 15, 1947 4Sheets-Sheet 2' J. ERWOOD INTERMITTENT OPERATING MECHANISM Nov. 9, 1948.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 13, 1947 HOP/Z757 L Q i T N W 1 rL FiledSept. 13, 1947' Nov. 9, 1948. J ERWOQD 2,453,123

INTERMITTENT OPERATING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 flue/22b? JbsejaiIi'll/OUCZ Patented Nov. 9, 1948 INTERMITTENT OPERATING MECHANISM JosephErwood, Crystal Lake, 111., assignor to The Erwood 60., Crystal Lake,Ill., a corporation of Illinois Appiication September 13, 1947, SerialNo. 773,829

The present invention relates in general to intermittently operableapparatus, and more particularly to automatic phonograph record discfeeding and playing apparatus.

Apparatus of the character mentioned may comprise the combination, withphonographic record playing apparatus, of mechanism for automaticallydelivering phonographic record discs successively in playing position inthe record playing apparatus. Such mechanism also may include means forcontrolling the record playing and disc feeding apparatus inpredetermined sequence in order, at the conclusion of the playing of arecord disc, or at any time during the playing of a disc, to retract thesound pick-up element of the record playing mechanism from playingposition, to deliver a record disc in playing position while the pick-updevice is in retracted position, and to return the pick-up device toplaying position'with respect to the record so delivered, whereby toprovide for the playing of a series of record discs successively, inautomatic fashion, in the phonograph apparatus.

An important object of the present invention is to provide inexpensive,simplified apparatus of the character described having a minimum numberof operating parts, affording improved performance and adapted formanufacture at low cost, the invention, to this end, contemplatingapparatus many of the constituent parts of which may readily andsuitably be manufactured as sheet metal stampings.

Another important object is to provide intermittently operable apparatusof the character mentioned adapted normally to be retained in inactivecondition, thus eliminating operational noise, including meansautomatically operable at predetermined intervals and manually operable,at any time, to activate the apparatus for the performance of itsoperating cycle, including the return of the apparatus to inactivecocked position ready for a repeat performance of its operating cycle; afurther object being to provide apparatus comprising turnable drivingmeans normally held stationary in cocked, inactive position and adaptedwhen activated to be driven in one direction only for the performance ofthe operating cycle of the apparatus.

Another important object is to form said driving means as a shaftadapted for axial movement between active and inactive position,including means for drivingly turning said shaft when the same is inactive position; a further obj ect being to provide means normallyurging saidshaft axially toward active position and latch 14 Claims.(Cl. 274ll0) means for retaining the shaft in inactive position; a stillfurther object being to provide means for locking the shaft againstrotation in a predetermined relative angular position when the same islatched in axially shifted inactive position; yet another object beingto provide simplified means manually operable to release the latch atwill, and automatically operable to release the latch in response to theoccurrence of predetermined operating conditions, to initiate theoperating cycle of said intermittently operable mechanism.

Another important object is to provide simplified driving mechanismintermittently operable for the sequential activation of mechanism suchas a phonographic record feeding device and record playing apparatus,said driving mechanism comprising a shaft having cam means thereon forraising, lowering, and swinging the sound pickup device of the recordplaying mechanism and for actuating the record delivery mechanism intimed relationship; a further object being to provide adjustable stopmeans controlled by said shaft, as by means of a cam thereon, todetermine the initial or starting position of the pick-up device whenadvanced to record playing position following the delivery of a recorddisc in playing position in the apparatus.

Another important object is to provide improved and simplified means foraxially shifting the shaft to retracted inactive position at theconclusion of its operating cycle of movement; a further object, in thisconnection, being to utilize a spring pressed lever adapted to applyincreasing axial thrust on said shaft, as it reaches the conclusion ofits operating cycle, in combination with means operable to retain saidshaft in axially projected active position against the influence of saidspring pressed lever until said shaft reaches a predetermined relativelyangular position at the end of its operating cycle.

Another important object is to provide improved magazine means forsupporting one or more phonographic record discs in position forsuccessiv delivery into playing position, as on the turntable of arecord playing device; a further object being to provide improved andsimplified edge pushing mechanism for shifting the lowermost record, inthe record stack, to release the same for delivery on the turntable; astill further object being to provide edge pushing mechanism in the formof a plate mounted on a rockable support for edge pushing purposes, saidplate being turnable to present any selected one of sev- I eral edgepushing shoulders in pushing position whereby to accommodate the pushingmechanism to record discs of unlike size, such as the standard l" and12" phonographic record discs.

Another important object is to utilize the adjusting movement of theedge pushing mechanism to adjust the stop mechanism which determines thestarting position of the pick-up device when advanced to record playingposition by operation of the intermittently operable driving mechanism.

Another important object is to provide intermittently operable drivingmechanism for phonographic apparatus, including a record disc turntable,comprising an axially movable shaft carrying a gear wheel thereon, the.shaft being normally retained in axially retracted position and beingaxially projectable into active position engaging said gear wheel with adriving ear formed on said turntable, whereby the rotation of theturntable may drive said shaft when the same is in axially projectedactive position; a further object being to form said gear wheel and gearas so-called beveled elements rotating. on axes intersecting at an angleof the order of 90; a still further object being to form said gear andgear wheel as sheet metal stampings; yet another object being to formthe turntable as a sheet metal stamping with the gear built into theturntable as an integrated part thereof.

Another important object is to provide a simplified manually operablecontrol adapted when in neutral position to condition the apparatus forautomatic operation, said control being movable from neutral position inone direction to lock the automatic mechanism in inoperative position toprovide for so-called manual operation of the record player, saidcontrol being movable in another direction from neutral position atwill, during the playing of a record, to reject the record being playedby causing operation of the automatic record changing mechanism.

The foregoing and numerous other important objects, advantages, andinherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same.

is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken inconnection. with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment of the invention. Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of phonographic ap-.

paratus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2. is a View of the apparatus as seen from its under side.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 3-3 inFigs. 1 and2.

Figs. 4-, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken substantially along thelines 4- 3, 55, and 5-6 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1l inFigs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are sectional views taken respectively along thelines S-8, in Fig. 7, 9-9, in Fig. 2, Ill-Ill, in Fig. 9, and l|--l l,in Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines i2l2 inFigs. 2 and 3; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l3 l a inFig. 1.

To illustrate the invention, the drawings show a. record player Hcomprising a support plate I2 carrying a record turntable l3 in positionto support a record I in playing position thereon. To this end, theplate i2 carries a turntable mounting member in the form of a bushing l5formed with suitable clamp means I6, at one end, whereby the bushing maybe non-turnably secured to the plate l2.

The turntable l3 may comprise a sheet metal stamping, having adownwardly turned marginal rim I! and a central opening fitted with ajournal sleeve l8 adapted to fit upon the bushing l5, so that theturntable may be mounted for rotation freely on the bushing. A ring 59may be provided to form a step bearing disposed between the lowe endofthe sleeve t8; and the plate I2. The lower end, of the sleeve I8 alsomay be formed to provide a gear 20, preferably by flaring the lower endof the sleeve 8 outwardly to form a circumferential flange, and cuttinggear teeth in said circumferential flange. The central portions of theturntable may also be strengthened and reinforced, and the sleeve [8braced, by means of a dished washer 2| welded to the turntable and tothe lower end of the sleeve l8 adjacent the gear 2d, the upper end ofthe sleeve being secured to the body of the turntable at the centerthereof. The gear 20 p o d s. d iv ng, means r a dr ven means cemprisinganother gear and an axially shifta'bler tatable shaft hereinafterdescribed.

The turntable may be, and preferably is, driven, by an electric motor22, in any suitable or preferred fashion. As shown, the motor may, be,secured to the plate H, on the underside thereof, and may have a shaft23 xtending throughthe plate and carrying a turntable driving roller 24.in position to drivingly engage the rim. of a wheel.

25. said wheel being supported on the plate l2,

in position to drivingly engage the downwardly, turnedrim. ll of theturntable. Operation of the. motor may be controlled by a suitableswitch 26, preferably mounted on the plate {2, the. switch. v g ts ma ul pe ab mb iexpcs d above the plate and bein electrically connectedbeneath the plate in a suitable motor energizing circuit.

The plate L2 outwardly of the turntable, may. be provided with apedestal 2.1, on which a pick-up.

device, comprisingv an arm 28, is pivoted for, swinging movement aboutthew/ ertical axis of, the pedestal. The arm may also be mounted formovement about a horizontal axis at the topof the pedestal, so that apick-up device. at, the swinging. endof thearm may engage and-may be;raisedfromengagement with a record in playingposition; on the.turntable.

sound reproducing apparatus, so that, by applying the pick-up device toa recorder; the turn.

table and by operating the motor 22, theapparatus/may reproduce thesounds recorded on the; record,

Mechanism for the automatic delivery of records in playin position onthe, turntable may comprise magazine means for supporting a stack22.ofrecord discs, in position to be deliveredsuce cessively intoplaying position on the turntable, the delivery mechanism includingmeans operablev forejecting records successively from the stack To thisend, the magazine.

3i adapted to mate with a tongue on the end of' the pin for a purposehereinafter more particularly described. The pin may thus be mounted inthebushing in position extending upwardly. of:

the turntable.

The upper end, of; the pin comprises. an offset The pick-up device: onthe arm 28 may be connected with-any suitable portion 32 defining anupwardly facing shoulder 33 on one side of the pin and a downwardlyfacing shoulder 34 on the other side thereof. Both the upper offsetportion and the lower portion of the pin are sized to loosely fit thecentral opening provided in standard phonograph records of the disctype. Accordingly, one or more records forming a stack may be applied tothe offset portion 32 of the pin, said portion extending in the alignedcenter openings of the records, and the records being supported one uponthe other, with the lowermost record of the stack resting upon theupwardly facing shoulder 33, said shoulder engagin the lowermost recordof the stack on one side of the central opening thereof. It will benoted that all of the records in a stack, thus supported, with theexception of the lowermost record, are positively held in concentricalinement by the upper portions 32 of the center pin.

The shoulders 33 and 34 are spaced apart a distance slightly greaterthan the thickness of a record disk, Accci ingly, the lowermost recordin a stack may be moved on the center pin in a direction to aline itscentral opening with the lower portions of the center pin, therebydisengaging said lowermost record from the shoulder 33. When so moved,the lowermost record will be free to fall, under the influence ofgravity, downwardly along lower portions of the center pin and becomedeposited on the turntable in position to be played.

In order thus to move the lowermost record, to release or eject it fromthe stack and deliver it in playing position on the turntable, edgepushing mechanism 35 may be provided. This pushing mechanism maycomprise a support sleeve 36 extending through an opening Si in theplate l2, in position outwardly of the edge of the turntable, the edgepushing mechanism being disposed on the side of the pin opposite fromthe upwardly facing shoulder 33 thereof. Since the edge pushingmechanism permanently mounted on the plate the shoulder iii of the pinsupporting bushing the mating tongue or" the center pin assure themounting of the pin in the support bushing iii only in position with theshoulder 33 facing away from the edge pushing mechanism.

The sleeve 36, at its lower end, beneath the support plate 92, iscarried on a bracket 38 which, in turn, is pivotally mounted, as bymeans of the pivot pins 3%, in a mounting bracket 48 fastened preferablyto the underside of the plate 12. The sleeve 36 extends upwardly or" theplate l2 and receives a stem 4! turnably therein, said stem carrying anedge pushing plate 42 at the upper end of the sleeve 3%. This plateprovides lips 43 and 43 at remote edge portions of the plate, andupstanding, struck-out fingers 44 disposed inwardly of said lips, thevertical length of the fingers being substantially equal to thethickness of a standard record disc. As shown, the lips 43 and 43 areformed in opposite edges of the plate 42, which eccentrically mounted onthe pin 4|, the lips 43 being closer to the pin than the lips 43. Byrotating the plate 42, either the lips 43 or the lips 43 may be disposedin position facing toward the center pin til, the arrangement being suchthat the lips Q3 and 43', when turned toward the pin Bil, will extend inposition tonnderlie and form edge support for the lowermost disc in arecord stack carried by the center pin, the eccentric mounting of theplate allowing the lips 43 to provide edge support for discs of thestandard 10 inch size, while the lips 43 may afiord support for standard12 inch record discs.

The plate 42 carries a fitting 45 thereon b tween the lips 43 and 43,said fitting forming a mounting fora pivoted arm 46, the swingin end ofwhichiis provided with a weighted head 41. The fitting 45 includesspring means 48, preferably in the form of a leaf sprin adapted tooperate upon the arm 46, in either direction, to provide a toggleaction, whereby the arm may be swung on its pivot at will to bring thehead 41 either into position above the lips 43, or above the lips 43,the spring urging the head downwardly toward the lips whereby theweighted head may be pressed downwardly upon the records of a supportedstackin order to hold the edges thereof, either upon the edge supportinglips 43 or upon the lips 43.

The stem 41 has an end projecting outwardly of the sleeve 36, below thebracket 38, and provided with a radially extending arm 49 carrying alever actuating stud 50, which turns with the stem as the plate 42 isturned, to selectively present the lips 43 and 43' in operative stacksupporting position. A spring 5! is preferably as-.

sembied on the stem between the arm 49 and the end of the sleeve 36, inorder yieldingly to draw the stem 4|, in the sleeve 36, in a directionto bear the plate 42 against the sleeve 36. One side of the sleeve 36,at the end thereof on which the plate 42 bears, is cut away, as at 52,to accommodate a latching pin 53, which may comprise either a radial pinin the stem 4! or a struck-out lug on the plate 42, in position toextend in and to ride upon the cut-away end of the sleeve 35. Saidcut-out portion 52, at the opposite ends thereof,

5 forms notches 54 adapted to latchingly receive the latch member 53 inorder to latch the plate on the sleeve 36 in either of its turnedpositions, presenting the lips 43 or the lips 43' in stack supportingposition.

The sleeve supporting bracket 38 is formed with a projecting arm 55extending thence underneath the plate I2 toward the portions thereofbeneath the central portions of the turntable, a tension spring 56 beingconnected between said arm 55 and the plate i2 to normally andyleldingly urge said arm and its connected bracket 38 in a direction onthe pivots 39 to retract-the plate 42 away from the center pin 38. Thearm 55 is provided with preferably adjustable stop means, such as thescrew 51, mounted on the arm 55 in posi tion to engage the plate 52, andthus limit the tilting movement of the arm 55, the bracket 38 and thesleeve 36, and the resultant retracting movement of the plate 42, underthe influence or" the spring 56, The stop means 5'! may thus be arrangednormally to hold the plate 42 in such position as to present the lips 43and 43' respectively in position to support the edges of standard 10 and12 inch records, in stacks, with the lugs 44 lying against the edge ofthe lowermost record of a supported stack.

Whenever it is desired to feed the lowermost record of a supported stackinto playing position on the turntable, the arm 55 may be moved againstthe urge of the spring iii: to shift the plate 42 toward the center pin343, whereby the lugs 44 may shift the lowermost record of the supportedstack radially on the pin 38 to release the same from the shoulder 33,the arm 55 being then released for return to normal position determinedby the stop member Bl, thus releasing both the edge and the center ofsaid lowermost record for deposition by gravity into playing position onthe turntable.

From the foregoing it will be apparentthat the f present inventioncontemplates an exceedingly simple, inexpensive, yet novel andeffectiveiedge; pushing mechanism for the successive. ejection of recorddisks from a supported stackand the: delivery thereof in playingposition upon the turntable.

Simplified driving mechanism alsoiis providedv to operate the recordfeeding. mechanism andzto: correlate the operation thereof with recordplaying movements of the pick-up arm 2.8. This'driving mechanism mayoperate automatically for. record disc feeding purposes by firstlifting: the arm. 28 from .a record being played, and swinging it to aretracted orstand-by position outwardly of. the record. In performingits operating cycle: the driving mechanism may thenactuate the lever.55. for record feeding purposes in themanner previously described todeposit the lowermost record. disc, in the stack 29, in playingposition. on the turntable. Finally, the driving mechanism may operate.to advance the arm 28,. inwardly. with respect to the turntable, anddeposit it upon the record disc in position to commence the playingthereof.

To these ends, the driving mechanism may comprise a rod or shaft 58axially shiftable andturnably mounted in suitable bearings 59 and 59',re.- spectively, mounted in brackets 60 and. 60., sup.- ported on theunderside of the. plate l2,.the shaft 53 being thus mounted beneath theplate 12 in position with one end of the shaft extendingbeneath thecentral portions of the turntable, and the other end projecting beneaththe arm carrying pedestal 2?. The shaft 58 carries a gear wheel. 6ifixed thereto and preferably comprising. a sheet metal stamping, in theinterests of manufacturingv economy. The gear wheel 6i may bestrengthened and reinforced by means of a plate or disc 52. forming ahub at the central portions of the wheel. This hub preferably carries alatch pin 63: projecting therefrom a direction parallel with respect tothe axis of the shaft 58. The wheel and hub extend adjacent the bearingbracket 68, and. the pin 63 projects toward said bracket. The

bracket may be formed with a latch pin opening.

[it in position to receivethe pin 53 whereby to lock the shaft and thegear wheel again-st turning movement, in. the bearings 59 and 551', whenthe shaft is in an axially retracted position. The edge of the gearwheel 5| extends in an opening 65 formed in the plate I2 whereby, whenthe shaft 58 is in axially projected position, in which the latch pin 53is disengaged from the latch opening 64, the gear wheel 6! may drivinglyengage the gear 23 on the turntable, the gear wheel Bl being retractedfrom driving engagement with the gear 28 and drivingly disconnectedtherefrom whenever the shaft 58 is in axially retractedpwsition.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the shaft 58, when inaxially projected position, will be driven by the motor 22 through theturntable and the gear members 29 and Bi and, when the shaft 58 is inaxially retracted position, it will be latched against rotation in apredetermined. angular position in its bearings 59 and 59 The. shaftthus comprises a member-periodically operable under the drivinginfluence of the motor 22 to actuate the record feeding mechanism 35 andto swing and position the tone arm 28 in manner hereinafter more fullydescribed. To this. end the shaft 58 is cooperatively associated withthe pick-up arm 28 by arm operating means extendiing within the pedestal21 and operable to raise,

' seat on the shaft.

holding the shaft in axially retracted or cooked. position against theinfluence of the spring, 11,.

swing; and: lowerthe pick-up arm in. accordance:

with themovement-of the'shaft 58..

The pedestal 27 forms a vertical bearing for. a tubular member 66, whichis turnably mounted withint'he pedestal. One end of thistube extends.

The tube 6.6; has an end extending outwardly of thep-edestal beneath thesupportplate l2, saidend carrying an arm or blade 69 fixedthereonandextending radially. outwardly of the tube and .turnabletherewith. This. arm 69 accordingly moves. about :the axis of thepedestal. 2-! along. with the pick-up arm 28.

Vertically movable within the bore of the tube. is a pin ithaving. anend projecting upwardly of the bracket 61 in position to engage a bearing block ii on the arm 28. At its lower end the pin it projects fromthetube; 66, beneath and adjacent. the arm 59,. and carries a disc72.having'a.

spline pin 73 projecting upwardly thereof, at the:

edge of the disc in position to extend through an opening. in the armE59, said arm preferably com prising a sheet metal stamping. pin itaccordingly may move upwardly and downwardlywithin the sleeve 66,carrying with it the disc 1.21,. which is drivingly connected atalltimes with the sleeve 56, and hence with the pick-up arm Eden-d thecontrol arm 68, by means of the spline pin 13;,

The marginal portions of the'pla'te 12, on the under side thereof,are'roughened to form an annular frictional driving surface 12'; and thepin" it; beneath the disc '12 and centrally thereof, forms a camfollowing projection 14.

By moving the pin H1 up or down through the sleeve 66, the arm 28 may beraised or. lowered on its pivot pin 68; and by turning the disc 12,. thearm 28 may be swung horizontally about the axis of the pedestal 21.Suitable actuating means is provided for thus raising and lowering thearm 28, by the axial movement of the pin 10, and for swinging the arm28, in response to the turning, movement of the shaft 58 when the gears20: and. GI are .in driving engagement. Such actuating means maycomprise an arm raising and low.- ering cam 15 and a pair of armswinging segments 16 and 16 fixed on the end of the shaft 58 beneath thepedestal 21, said cam and segments being in position on the shaft suchthat, when the shaft is inv axially projected driving position, the cam15 will be in operativev registration and engagement with the camfollowing projection of the stem H1,v and the-elements wand 76' will bedisposed beneath and in position to operatively engage the annularfrictional driving surface 12' of the disc 12 respectively on oppositesides there: of.

The shaft 58 is normally urged towarda'projected' driving position as bymeans of a compression spring ll, which conveniently may com-- prise ahelical spring element encircling the shaft, and bearing at oppositeends respectively on the bearing 59' and on a collar 78 forming aspringv Means also is provided-5' for saidmeans conveniently comprisinga latch collar 79 on. the shaft and a latch member80, prefer-J ablycomprising a sheet metal stamping, pivotally mounted as on a pivot pin8|, in turnsupported. on the plate l2- The latchv member. has. a.latching tongue 82 and. is. normallyrurgedas by means of a spring 83. onthe pinill, into posi-. tion to latchingly engagethelatch.collar-19 0nthe shaft. The latch member 89 also preferably is formed with anoperating arm 84 which extends toward the pedestal 21, said arm having abearing portion 85 near its end in position to be engaged and pressed bythe arm 69, in order to release the latch members 19 and 82 and thusrelease the shaft 58 for movement from cocked to driving position whenthe tone arm 28, during the playing of a record on the turntable,reaches and enters the usually eccentric terminal groove of the recorddisc. If desired the arm 59 may be fitted with an adjustable set screw86 in position to engage the bearing portion 85 whereby accurately todetermine the latch tripping position of the tone arm 28. The shaft 58may thus be released from cocked to operating position for theperformance of its operating cycle at the conclusion of the playing of arecord disc, and the latching position of the member 89 under theinfluence of the spring 83 may be limited and determined by a stop pin81, mounted on the plate I2 in position to engage the arm 84 when thelatch member 89 is in latching position.

Upon release of the latch members 19 and 82,

by action of the arm 69 at the conclusion of the playing of a record onthe turntable, the shaft 58 will be turned, by the turning movement ofthe turntable, through one complete rotation of the shaft 58. During thecourse of said rotation a portion 88 of the cam will operate to raisethe tone arm 28 from the record. Thereafter the driving segment 16 willoperate, through the disc I2 and sleeve 66, to swing the tone arm to aretracted position outwardly of the turntable determined by theengagement of the arm 69 with a stop 89 mounted on and extending beneaththe plate I2. The driving segment I9 is so positioned on the shaft as tocommence its driving engagement with the "disc 12, as the result ofturning movement of the shaft, as soon as the pin 19 has been lifted bythe cam portion 88 to raise the arm '28 from engagement with the recordon the turntable.

The gear BI carries a pin 99 thereon in position to engage andoperatively shift the actuating arm. 55 of the disc feeding mechanism35, said actuating arm having a, cammed end 9| extending adjacent thegear wheel BI in position to be drivingly engaged by the pin 99 duringthe rotation of the gear wheel, said arm 55 being operatively shifted bythe pin 99, during the cycle of operation of the driving mechanism,immediately after the pick-up arm has been retracted to stand-byposition outwardly of the record disc. Actuation of the arm 55, aspreviously described, will result in the delivery of a record from thestack. 29, into playing position on the turntable.

Thereafter continued movement of the shaft 58 will bring the drivingsegment I6 into engagement with the disc I2 in order to swing the tonearm 28 into position to commence the playing of the record delivered onthe turntable. So long s the segments 19 and I6 are driving the disc 72,the pin I9 and the arm 28 will be held in elevated position by saidsegments. During the interval after the segment I9 has retracted the armand before the segment l6 operates to project the arm, it may beretained in elevated position by the riding of the cam follower element"I4 upon a cam portion 92 of the cam member 15.

In order to stop the arm 28 in starting position at the edge of a recordon the turntable, a stop latch 93 is provided. This latch preferablycomprises a sheet metal plate pivotally mounted on and beneath the plateI2. Where standard 101 or 12" record discs are to be accommodated, thelatch member 93 may be provided with a pair of stop shoulders 94 and 95so that by positioning the stop member to present one or other of theshoulders 94 and 95 in the path of the tongue I59" of the arm 59,-saidarm and the pick-up arm 28 which is drivingly connected therewith may bestopped in appropriate starting positions for commencing the playing of10" and 12" record discs.

Means is provided for positioning the shoulders 94 and 95 forcooperation with the tongue 69' in accordance with the adjusted positionof the feeding mechanism 35 to accommodate either 10" or 12" recorddiscs. To this end a preferably sheet metal lever 99 is provided on theunder side of the plate I2 and mounted thereon for pivotal movement ason a support pin 91. This lever-is connected with the latch member orplate 93 and has an end slotted as at 98 to receive the roller 59,-Accordingly, the lever 99 will turn on its pivot and move the latchmember or plate 93 to present one or other of the shoulders 94 or 95 in'the path of the arm 69 in response to the turning of the p'ate 42 inadjusting the mechanism 35 for the accommodation of 10 and 12" records.

After the pick-up arm 28 has been'stopped by one or other of theshoulders 94 or 95 in position to start the p aying of a record,continued movement of the shaft 58, through the action of a cam portion99 of the member I5, will lower the arm 28 upon the record. Meansoperable simultaneously with the lowering of the arm onto the record isalso provided for releasing the tongue 69' from whichever of theshoulders 94 and 95 with I whf ch it is then in stopping engagement, inorder to release the arm 28 for free playing movement in engagement withthe helical sound grooves of the record disc.

To this end the stop lever or plate 93 is mounted on the adjusting lever99 by means of a pivot pin I99, which pivotally interconnects mountingears IN and I92 formed respectively on the levers 96 and 93. Springmeans, preferably a helical spring I93, encircling the pin I99, servesyieldingly to urge the member 93 on the pivot pin I99 in a downwarddirection from the plate I2 to present the shoulders 94 and 95 in thehorizontal plane of the path of movement of the tongue 69'. The member93, however, is provided with a downwardly extending plate portion I94in position to be enga ed by a cam member, such as the collar 18, on theshaft 58. This cam member preferably comprises a disc having a circularedge portion I95 adapted to engage the blade I94 in order normally tohold the member 93 against the influence of the spring I93 in positionsuch that the shoulders 94 and 95 are displaced upwardly from the planeof .movement of the tongue 69'. Accordingly, so long as the cam portionI95 engages the blade' I94, the arm 69 and the pick-up arm 28 may swingfreely without being stopped by either of the shoulders 94 and 95. Aportion of the member I8, however, is cut away to form a flat camsurface E95, the member 49 being positioned on the shaft 58 so as topresent such flat cam surface I99 to the blade I94, thereby allowing themember 93 to move, under the influence of the spring I93. into positionpresenting the shoulders 94 and 95 in stopping position in the plane ofmovement of the tongue 69' at the instant when theshaft58, by operationof the member 16, starts to project the arm 28 from retracted standbyposition toward its commence playing position.

As the shaft 58 continues to turn after the arm 28 has reached thecommence playing position as aasa as determined Eby the shoulder :91; orthe shoulder-".95, the :member 178 will also turn and retract-the member-93 from stopping position .:by presenting the circular cam portion 105?in lifting engagement with the blade KIM, 'thus :releasing the "farm 28for Ifree record playing movement :a'crossthe turntable.

FAfter completion ."of "the ,record changing "and arm swingingoperations, the "shaft 58 -Wi1lICOI1- tinue-ito be driven until'thefgear Wheel 61 :reaches arese'ttin-g positionfin which the :pin 53.comes into alignment"with theilatch openingifi l. Asithe-gear wheelreaches such position, a icamm-ember on the gear wheel, such :as the:pin :90, 'comesdnto engagem'ent with a resetting member, the samepreferably comprising a lever I01 pivotally mounted :on a suitablesupport bracket on 'the plate "I2. This lever :is normally "urged as bymeansa-of a spring 1'08 into positioninithe'path of thezpin 9 0,;so thatas the'gear wheel 6 Iapproaches its resetting position, it :will engageand depress the resetting lever 10.1, against the influenceof the:spring, :sothat, as the Wheel :reaches the aresetting position, the"urge :of 'the spring -l08Will be applied to the end of the :pin Win :a:direction parallel'to the axis of the shaft *58, the spring Hi3 beingstrong enough to urge the "gear and the shaft :58 towardaxiallyr'etracted position, against the 'spring (1.1.

The end of the pin '63, accordingly, will ride upon "the face "of the:bracket lit, imaintain'ing the gears :20 and 6t! 2in= engagement,'until the'pin163 registers With -the opening 264, at which instant thegear :61 and shaft 758 will be "pushed T130 tre tracted position bylever #07, looking the pin 63 in the opening 615,i'dlscfll'lnecti'ngilthe gear *6! from the :gear :20, and allowing "thelatch 'm-e1nb'er 82 to assume its latching position against it-he :faceof the-ila'tchin'gicollar 1'9 -tovho'ld the shaft 58 latched in:retracted :locked position, 'ready for :a repeat cycle of itsrecordtfee dingz'andpick upzarm swinglng soperation. The axial:lfel'a-tChlng movement of the :shaft also "disengages the :pin *90 from:the lever 1101, :after "the collar T19 has been moved slightlyfartherthan required to allow the latch 82?to "engage it. The :leverilfl'lthen slips off-the end rof'rpin :50 :allowing shaft 58 to move,under the influence of spring 11:1, :to bring the face of member [9 into"holding engagement with "the late-r1262.

:It will be seen from the foregoing "that the mechanism provides for thecomplete automatic operation of the record feeding and armswing'ingapparatus intresponse to the tripping o'f'the latch memberillllfatr'theconclusionof the playing or a record. .iMeans is provided,howcver,'forinitiating the record changing icycle of operation at anytime sduring :the playing :of a record, whereby'to accomplish :aFS'O-iCElIIGd record reject function. To this end the latch memberS'Omay be formed with'ia :fiange or ear N9 disposed in position 'to beengaged by a lug M on a bar HI, sliding'ly secured on thesupport plate12 as by'means of a headed pin H2, on "the plate l2, and an elongatedslot ilLFB' ZfOrmBG lnithe bar. This-bar l H extends beneathitheplate l2toa convenient position outwardly "of .the turntable. -A manuallyoperable knob M4 mounted for sliding movement on the upper surface 'ofthe plate I 2, in readily accessible positiongmayibe connected withthe-bar H-I as by means of a fastening screw H 5 extending through anelongated slot 1 16 formed in'the plate I 2. The bar FI' I in its edgemay be cut out as at H1 t0 provide-apair-ofadiacentlatchreceivingnotches i 8 and 4L9.

latch spring L20 may be mounted on the underside of the :plate i2, saidspring having a latching portion .l2l imposition extending in thecutout'portion All of the bar ill. The bar may be shifted by means ofthe knob to engage the latch spring in the notch 858. When in suchposition :a latching extension i232 on the bar H-l will engage andpermanently latch with the collar 1119 .on thetshaft 58, thus preventingautomatic operation f the record changing mechanism. When the shaft 5.8is so latched. by the bar 11H, the.re-cordplayerwillbe conditioned forso-called manual operation. Bymoving the bar ill to engage the .latchspring with the notch lldthe' latching tongue 122 Will :be released fromthe collar :79 intorder tocondition the apparatus for automatic recordchanging operation, this being thetnorma'l or neutral position of thebar'l ll. By further projecting the bar ill, the latching end 5216 of:the spring may be caused to ride upon an inclined shoulder L23 of thecut out bar portion inorder to aengage'the releasing lip i it of the barwith the actuating lug m9 of the latch member 823, whereby to move saidmember 88 in a direct on to releasethe latch memberZ-lii from the latchcollar 19, and'thus initiate the record changing cycle of operationmanually for re-cord reject purposes.

:It WiIl be seen from the foregoing that the mechanismaffordsexceedingly simple and inexpensive record playing apparatus, inthat substantially all of the parts, including the gear 20 an-d'thegear. wheelfi l, may comprise sheet metal stampings, While the otherparts may comprise simple elements. cutfrom standard stock on automatic"machines. means is provided :for conditioning the apparatus either "fortmanual :or automatic operation. The mechanism also provides meansmanually operabletat anytime, during the playing of a record,

' for discontinuing and rejecting such record and iii) deliveringaasu-cceeding record disc from the magazane.

rItEis th'oug t'that'the'invention and itsnumercus attendantadvantageswill be ful y understood from the foregoing description, and it isobvious that :numerouschangesrnay be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages,the form herein disclosed being a preierred embodiment for the purposeof illustrating the-invention.

'Theinvention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. Phonographic apparatus comprising a recrd turntable adapted to bedriven, a tone arm, driving means operatively associated with theturntable and driven thereby, driven means connested on a turnable andaxially shiftable shaft in. coactive relation with said driving means,means operatively associated with said shaft and said tone-arm to raiseand lower the same, means operatively -associated with said shaft andsaid tone arm 'to move the tone arm laterally away from the turntableand to move the tone arm towardthe turntable after it has been movedaway from the turntable, and means operatively as sociated with saidshaft for retracting said shaft to disengage said driven means forcoactive re lation with said driving means.

2. Phonogra-phic apparatus comprisin a record turntable adapted to bedriven, a tone arm, driving means operatively associated with theturntable and driven thereby, driven means connested-on a 'turnable andaxially shiftable shaft Exceedingly simple control in coactive relationwith said driving means, means operatively associated with said shaftand said tone arm to raise and lower the same, means operativelyassociated with said shaft and said tone arm to move the tone armlaterally away from the turntable and to move the tone arm toward theturntable after it has been moved away from the turntable, meansoperatively associated with said shaft for retracting said shaft todisengage said driven means from coactive relation with said drivingmeans, and means operatively associated with said shaft for holding saidshaft in said retracted position during the record playing operation.

3. Phonographic apparatus comprising a record turntable adapted to bedriven, a tone arm, driving means operatively associated with theturntable and driven thereby, driven means connected on a rotatable andaxially shiftable shaft in coactive relation with said driving means,means operatively associated with said shaft and said tone arm to raiseand lower the same, means operatively associated with said shaft andsaid tone arm to move the tone arm laterall away from the turntable andto move the tone arm toward the turntable after it has been moved awayfrom theturntable, means operatively associated with said shaft forretract ng said shaft to disengage said driven means from coactiverelation with said driving means, and means operatively associated withsaid shaft for locking said shaft against rotation in said retractedposition.

4. Phonographic apparatus comprising a record turntable adapted to bedriven, a tone arm, driving means operatively associated with theturntable and driven thereby, driven means comprising a rotatable andaxially shiftable shaft in coactive relation with said driving means,means operatively associated with said shaft and said tone arm to raiseand lower the same, means operatively associated with said shaft andsaid tone arm to move the tone arm laterally away from the turntable andto move the tone arm toward the turntable after it has been moved awayfrom the turntable, means opera tively associated with said shaft forretracting said shaft to disengage said driven means from coactiverelation with said driving means, and means operatively associated withsaid driven means to project said shaft axially into drivingrelationship with said driving means from said retracted position.

5. Phonographic apparatus comprising a com bination of a recordturntable adapted to be T driven, a tone arm, driving means operativelyassociated with the turntable and driven thereby, axially shiftabledriven means connected on a rotatable and axially shiftable shaft incoactive relation with said driving means, means operativel associatedwith said shaft and said tone arm comprising a cam wheel rotatable withsaid shaft, means operatively connected with said cam wheel and engagingthe tone arm to raise and lower the same, segmental frictional drivingmembers rotatable with said shaft and adapted upon rotation of saidshaft in one direction to successively engage a turnable element onopposite sides of its turning axis to thereby successively turn saidelement in opposite direc-- tions, a connection between said turnableelement and said tone arm to cause said tone arm to turn with saidelement in one direction away from and in another direction towardplaying position, means operatively associated with said 1.- w ll 14vshaft for retracting said shaft to a position in which it is out ofdriving engagement with said driving means during the playing of arecord, and means operatively associated with said shaft for holdingsaid shaft in said retracted position during the record playingoperation.

6. Phonographic apparatus comprising a combination of a record turntableadapted to be driven, a tone arm, record changing means, driving meansoperatively associated with the turntable and driven thereby, drivenmeans comprising a rotatable and axially shiftable shaft in coactiverelation with said driving means during a record changing operation,means operatively associated with said driven means and said recordchanging meansto effect a record changing operation, means operativelyassociated with said shaft and said tone arm to raise and lower the sameprior to and after the record changing operation, means operativelyassociated with said shaft and said tone arm to move the tone armlaterally away from the turntable just prior to said record changingoperation and to move said tone arm laterally toward said turntable justafte said record changing operation, and means operatively associatedwith said driven means for retracting said shaft axially until saiddriven means is out of said coactive relation with said driving meansduring the playing of a record.

'7. Phonographic apparatus comprising a combination of a recordturntable adapted to be driven, a tone arm, record changing means,driving means operativefy associated with the turntable and driventhereby, driven means comprising a rotatable and axially shiftable shaftin coactive relation with said driving means during a record changingoperation, means operatively associated with said driven means and saidrecord changing means to effect a record changing operation, meansoperatively associated with said shaft and said tone arm to raise andlower the same prior to and after the record changing operation, meansoperatively associated with said shaft and said tone arm to move thetone arm laterally away from the turntable just prior to said recordchanging operation and to move said tone arm laterally toward saidturntable just after said record changing operation, means operativelyassociated with said driven means for retracting said shaft axiallyuntil said driven means is out of said coactive relation with saiddriving means during the playing of a record, and means operativelyassociated with said shaft for holding said shaft in said retractedposition during the record playing operatic-n.

8. Phonographic apparatus comprising a combination of a record turntableadapted to be driven, a tone arm, record changing means, means to raiseand lower the tone arm and to move the tone arm laterally away fromtowardthe turntable, driving means o-peratively associated with theturntable and driven thereby, driven means comprising a rotatable andaxially shiftable shaft in coactive relation with said driving meansduring a record changing operation, means operatively associated withsaid driven means and said record changing means to effect a recordchanging operation, means operatively associated withsaid shaft and saidtone arm to raise and lower the same prior to and after the recordchanging-operation, means operatively associated with. said shaft andsaid tone arm to move the tone arm laterally away from the turntablejust prior to said record changing operation and to move said tone armlaterally toward said turn- 1' 5 table just after said record changingoperation, means operatively associated with said driven means forretracting said shaft-axiallytuntil'said driver; means isout of saidcoa'ctive relation with saiddriving means during theplaying ofa record,means operatively associated with said shaft "for holding said shaft insaid retracted position during the rec ord playingoperatiom-and meansoperatively associated with said shaft for-locking said shaft rotationinsaid retracted position.

9. Phonographic apparatus 'comprisinga combination. of :a recordturntable adapted to be driven, a tone arm,'record changing means,drivin means opcratively associated with the turntable and driventhereby,'said'driving meanscomprising a ear with angular teeth, drivenmeans comprising [a gear with angular teeth connected on a rotatable andaxially shiftable shaft'in '00-- active relation with thegear of saiddriving means during a record changing operation, means 'op'erativelyassociated with said driven gear-and with said record changing means toeifec't the changing of a record, means operatively associated with saidshaft and said tone arm to raise and lower the tone'arm prior toand'after the'record changing operation, means -operatively associatedwith said shaft and said tone arm to move the tone arm laterally awayfrom the turntable just prior to said record changing operation and tomove said tone arm laterally toward said turntable just after saidrecord changing operation, and means operatively associated with saidshaft for retractin'g said shaft until said driven gear is out of saidcoactive relation with said driving gear.

10. Phonographic apparatus comprising a combination of a recordturntable adapted to be driven, a tone arm, record changing means,driving means operatively associated with the turntable and driventhereby, said drivingmeans com-, prising a gear with angular teeth,driven means comprising a gear with angular teeth connected on arotatable and axially shiftable shaft in c0- active relation with thegear of said driving means during a record changing operation, meansoperatively associated with said driven. gear and with said recordchanging means to effect the changin; of a record. means operativelyassociated with said shaft and said tone arm to raise and lower the tonearm prior to and after the record changing operation, means operativelyassociated with said shaft and said tone arm to move the tone armlaterally away from the turntable just prior to said record changingoperation and to move said tone laterally toward said turntable justafter said record changing operation, means operat vely assoc ated withsaid driven means for retracting sa d shaft axially until said drivengear is out of said co-active relation with said driving gear, meansoperatively associated with said shaft for holding said shaft in saidretracted position during the playing of a record. and means operativ-ey associated with said driven means for projecting said driven gear fromsaid retracted'position into driving relationship within said drivinggear.

11 Phonographic apparatus comnrising'a combination of a record turntableada ted to be driven, a tone arm, a record changing means, driving meansoperatively associated with the turntable and driven thereby, axiallyshiftable driven means connected on a rotatable and axially shiftableshaft in coactive relation with said driving means during .a recordchanging operation, means operatively associated with said driven meansand with .saidr re'cord changing 1'6 meansto 'e'fiect the changing of arecord, means operatively associated with said shaft and said toneia'rmcomprising-a cam on said shaft adapted to-raise and lower a member incontact with'said t-onearm to raise and lower the tone arm prior to andafter the record changing operation respectively, means operativelyassociated with said shaft comprising segmental frictional drivingmembers rotatable with said shaft and adapted upon rotation of the shaftin one direction to successively engage a turn-able element on oppositesides of its turning to thereby successively turn'said element inoppositedirections, means connecting said turnab-le element to the tonearm to causethe tone arm to rotate with said turna'ble element laterallyaway from the turntable just prior to said record changing operation andlaterally toward the turntable just after the record changing operation,means operatively associated with said shaft for retracting it untilsaid driven means is out of said coactive relation with said drivingmeans, and means operatively associated with said shaft for holding saidshaft in said retracted position during the record playing operation.

"l2. Phonographic apparatus comprising a combination of a recordturntable, means operatively associated with the turntable for turningthe same, a tone arm, means above the turntable to support a stack ofrecords, record dischargemeans to discharge records successively fromthe bot- :tom of the stack one at a time on to the turntable, drivingmeans operatively associated with the-turntable and driven thereby,axially shifta'ole driven means comprising a gear wheel connected on'a'turnable and axially shiftable shaft in coactive relation with saiddriving means during a record changing operation, means operativelyassociated with said gear wheel and'said record discharge means toeffect the record discharge operation, means operatively associatedwith, said shaft and said tone arm to raise and lower the same prior toand after the record discharge operation, means operatively associatedwith said shaft and said tone arm to move the tone arm laterally awayfrom the turntable just prior to said record discharge operation and tomove said tone arm laterally toward said turntable just after saidrecord discharge operation, means operatively associated with saiddriven means for retractin said shaft until said gear wheel is out'ofsaid coactive'relation during the playing of a record and meansop-eratively associated with said shaft for holding said shaft in saidretracted position during the record playing operation.

13. Ph-onographic apparatus comprising a com-- bination of a'recor-dturntab e, means ooeratively associated with the turntable for turningthe same, atone arm, means above the turntable to support a stack ofrecords. record discharge means to discharge recordssuccessively fromthe bottom of the stack one a time on to the turntable, driving meansoperatively associated with the turntable and driven thereby, axiallyshiftable driven means comprising a gear wheel connected on a turnableand axially shiftable shaft in 00-- active relation with said drivingmeans during a record changing operation, means operatively associatedwith said gear wheel and said record clischarge means to effect therecord discharge operation, means operatively associated with said shaftand said tone arm to raise and lower the same prior to and after therecord discharge operation, means operatively associated with said shaftand said tone arm to move the "tone arm laterally away from theturntable just prior to said record discharge operation and to move saidtone arm. laterally toward said turntable just after said recorddischarge operation, means operatively associated with said driven meansfor retracting said shaft until said gear wheel is out of said coactiverelation during the playing of a record, means operatively associatedwith said shaft for holding said shaft in said retracted position duringthe record playing operation, and means operatively associated with saiddriven means for locking the same against rotation in said retractedposition.

14. Phonographic apparatus comprising a combination of a recordturntable, means operatively associated with the turntable for turningthe same, a tone arm, means above the turntable to support a stack ofrecords, record discharge means to discharge records successively fromthe bottom of the stack one at a time on to the turntable, driving meansoperatively associated with the turntable and driven thereby, axiallyshiftable driven means comprising a bevel gear wheel connected on arotatable and axially shiftable shaft in coactive relation with saiddriving means during a record changing operation, means operativelyassociated with said gear wheel and said record discharge means toeffect the record discharge operation, means operatively associate-dwith said shaft and said tone arm to raise and lower the same prior toand after the record discharge operation, means operatively associatedwith said shaft and said tone arm to move the tone arm laterally awayfrom the turntable just prior to said record discharge operation and tomove said tone arm laterally toward said turntable just after saidrecord discharge operation, means operatively associated with saiddriven means for retracting said shaft until said gear wheel is out ofsaid coactive relation during the playing of a record, means operativelyassociated with said shaft fol holding said shaft in said retractedposition during the record playing operation, means operativelyassociated with said shaft for locking said shaft against rotation insaid retracted position, and means operatively associated with saiddriven means for projecting said shaft axially from said retractedposition to a position in which said driving means and said driven meansare in said coactive relation.-

JOSEPH ERWOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 369,602 Jordan Sept. 6, 18872,352,331 Leline Jun-e 2'7, 1944 2,394,539 Erwood et a1 Feb. 12, 1946

